OpenAir to Celebrate 3rd Birthday at The Oriental Theater
by Tim Wenger
OpenAir, the new music branch of Colorado Public Radio, is celebrating its 3rd birthday on Friday, November 7 at The Oriental Theatre. The evening, which is open to ages 16+, will feature performances from Wheelchair Sports Camp, The Other Black, Rubedo, and Keva starting at starting at 8:00 pm.
This event will mark a new venture in age celebration for OpenAir. The station’s actual birthday falls on Halloween, already one of the most notorious (and amateur-fueled) party nights of the year, so the OpenAir crew decided to host their celebration the following week. “We kicked it out for the 1st Birthday really huge, the second birthday we did a lot of stuff in-house, and this one we want to make it more of a celebration outside of the building,’” says Assistant Program Director and Music Director Jessi Whitten. The performers were carefully selected, representing what the station stands for in our local community. “We really want to focus on this Oriental show. These are all bands that we really care about, most of them have been featured on the OpenAir Live and Local show that we are doing on CPT 12.”
October 31 will see the station playing back some of their sets from their first day as well as some of their favorite studio sessions and other on-air highlights covering the station’s three-year life and getting listeners excited about the party November 7.
Before the party, however, Colorado Music Buzz wanted to know how the station has evolved over its three-year existence- what are they doing that keeps listeners tuning in, and what is the station and its crew all about. Program Director Mike Flanagan has been with the station since its inception in October of 2011, and has guided it through the twists, turns, and growing pains that face a young music station in the public radio sector. “People seem to be in two camps when it comes to OpenAir,” Flanagan says. “Most everybody discovered it by accident, or from hearing about it on Colorado Public Radio. They love it, they listen all day, they engage online. The get OpenAir. Literally. Then there are those who look at me blankly and have no idea we exist. That’s the challenge for OpenAir, move group B into group A. But what a fabulous mission.”
The signal at 1340 AM was formally used to rebroadcast CPR’s news segments. “It started being a question of, ‘Is that the best use of this whole other signal, is there anything else we could be doing,’” says. Whitten, who came to OpenAir after working for Flanagan at Radio 1190 in Boulder.
A niche was found by playing independent or often under-heard music from around the globe, something that had been lacking in Denver radio. “Mike always talks about it being ‘Graduate School music,’” Whitten says. “College radio is very different from what we are doing, but it is in some ways the roots of what we do. Playing the music that deserves to be played that you don’t hear on other radio stations. It’s an eclectic mix going back to the 1930s, even, to things that won’t be released for six months.”
“Music discovery means different things to different people,” says Flanagan. “I know for me it means I learn about new bands on a daily basis. But I also realize there are those who may have missed out on somebody they would love who might reside in the past. We live in the best time ever to be a music fan. I can say things like, ‘Hi, let me introduce you to Howlin’ Wolf,’ or ‘I think you are going to like Palma Violets or Chet Faker.’”
The station’s crew are constantly presenting new music, based on what listeners ask for in addition to what Flanagan, Whitten and the station’s other dj’s feel is appropriate. “We aren’t going off any algorithms or mind reading software,” says Flanagan. “If someone is hungry they may tell you they want a ham sandwich, but you serve up Pad Thai and they are thrilled. We’re appealing to a natural curiosity to absorb as much music as possible and doing it over the radio. Meanwhile the computer is asking them if they want mayo or mustard.”
Indie rock, it would seem, makes up a good portion of their playlist, although just about any genre will be considered. “If it sounds good, we’re going to play it,” Whitten says. Most of their music is garnered through submissions, and they’ve seen it all- vinyl, cd, digital, and cassette tape- as long as a track sounds like what the crew wants OpenAir to sound like, Whitten will make it work.
Local artists should submit their music care of Assistant Music Director Alisha Sweeney, who hosts the Mile High Noon program and focuses on Colorado’s diverse talent pool. Local artists can (and often do) get their songs in regular rotation.
The origins of OpenAir are as humble and professional as its staff. Both Flanagan and Whitten were recruited from Radio 1190. “Big, fancy CPR Max (Wysick) came into our little gross, moldy basement 1190 office,” Whitten says. “I was so impressed that he even came by, but he liked what we were doing and was really impressed with my formatting plan there.”
The station airs music 24 hours a day at 1340 AM and online at cpr.org/openair. Flanagan, Whitten and their team strive to help their listeners discover fresh music and maintain an open ear for listener suggestions. “People have a lot more say than they realize,” Whitten says.If someone will say something to me on Twitter, a change will happen that day. We’re thirsty for feedback. I wish more people would take advantage of it, but the people who do I think see a lot of response to it.”
Fans are also invited to tune in to OpenAir Live and Local on CPT 12. The episodes are filmed on-site in the CPR Performance Studio in Centennial. “It’s really cool that we’re showcasing all of the local talent that we do, and are able to get video of it,” Whitten says. “This is something we have really invested in. It’s great that we get to play these artists, but that we get to put a face to the music on CPT 12 is really exciting. The partnership is really great.” Grab tickets to the party on November 7 at theorientaltheater.com.
Online: cpr.org/openair
Category: Buzzworthy2
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